The European Parliament has decided today to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, arguing that Moscow's military attacks against civilian targets such as energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools and shelters violate international law.
The move is largely symbolic, as the European Union does not have a legal framework to back it up. At the same time, the bloc has already imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
With 494 votes in favour, 58 against and 44 abstentions, the plenary session of the European Parliament has approved the text on the invasion in Ukraine where it states that Moscow has intensified attacks against civilian targets.
In the text of the resolution you can read how the MEPs condemn "deliberate attacks and atrocities" committed by Russia. They call them "acts of terror against the Ukrainian population and war crimes."
The European Parliament will urge the 27 members of the EU to develop a legal framework to designate states as promoters of terrorism, since the European Union currently does not have a legal framework to do so as the United States does.
